Is “beauty sleep” for real? What you need to know.

We all want to look and feel our best which is why prioritizing beauty sleep should be part of the most fundamental skincare routine. At night your body does the vital work of cleaning up while we get restorative sleep. Without sleep, our looks will be affected

Probably the first thing you notice when you miss out on sleep is puffy eyes. Dark circles and bags under your eyes are some of the first signs that you aren't getting enough sleep. When you wake up rested, your eyes will appear brighter, and the puffiness and circles will be lessened.

Staying hydrated with plenty of clean filtered water will help reduce puffiness. Also, sleeping on the right pillow can make a difference in how puffy your face appears in the morning. Having your head propped at the right angle will allow gravity to keep puffiness at bay.

Sleep deprivation can also lead to dull skin due to a decrease in blood flow. When you aren't getting enough sleep, your skin may become dull; while a good night's sleep can give your cheeks a healthy glow.

At night our body produces collagen while we are getting our beauty sleep; collagen is essential for youthful looking skin. A lack of collagen causes wrinkles to deepen and be more noticeable. Collagen plumps up our skin causing it to be more hydrated thus making fine lines less pronounced. While we can supplement with collagen, the best remedy is sleep.

Sleep deprivation leads to more stress because of an increase in cortisol, the hormone that often contributes to belly fat. Too much cortisol can also lead to hair loss. Creating an oasis for sleep can help you to unwind and reduce stress. Using blackout curtains to block light, keeping the temperature cool, and using white noise can help you get a better night’s sleep. Making your bedroom a sanctuary can help prevent loss of sleep.

When you don't get enough sleep, you may feel fatigue which can make you look and feel less than cheerful. Being tired can cause us to frown more and have bloodshot eyes as well. All which can detract from your natural beauty.

Believe it or not, your bed sheets have an impact on your beauty sleep. Don’t believe the lies about thread count but do opt for GOTS or GOLS certified sheets to lower the number of toxins that come into contact with your skin while you sleep. Speaking of your skin, you might even want to sleep naked.

Skip the late night glass of wine for the best beauty sleep and most beautiful skin. Alcohol inhibits the deep sleep needed to regenerate healthy skin cells. Drinking alcohol in the hours before bedtime prevents deep sleep known as REM (rapid eye movement). During the stages of REM sleep, your body does the repair work that prevents dry, sallow looking skin.

Sleeping on the right mattress can make all the difference when it comes to beauty sleep, we recommend The Bed Boss. Save 20% with coupon code TOM20

Getting restorative sleep has been an on-going issue with me for over 11 years to which I’ve tried everything as well as doctors, meds, new mattress, etc. I can’t wait for the day I can truly get some great sleep.